Article by Albano Nunes, member of the Secretariat of the CC and member of the Political Committee
Imperialism brings war just like a cloud brings a storm". This well known warning by Jean Jaurés, the French socialist, who because of is tireless propaganda against war, was assassinated just before the 1914 / 1918 catastrophe, is disturbing us up-to-date.
Militarism, the arms race, wars aggression along with the ever more ominous onslaughts against freedoms, rights and fundamental democratic guarantees --- are present in international life and increasingly invade our daily life.
Let no doubts remain: if it continues along with such a path, under the orders of the USA and other imperialist powers the world will be drawn towards large scale catastrophes, even when compared with the tragedies that occur in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and in other parts of the world. The militarization of the economy and society was always considered a way out for the worst contradictions and crises within the capitalist system. It is increasingly likely that the sinking of the housing market in the US will became a serious economical and financial crisis, with great impact, both throughout the whole capitalist system and the world economy, with very dangerous developments that can not be ignored. Faced with a before a strong resistance of the peoples, temptations of leaping into the darkness are evident, which, in the case of Iran, might set the world on fire. The explosive blend of militarist paranoia with a cyclical crisis of vast proportions demands that progressive and peace loving forces redouble their vigilance and intensify their struggle.
Within this framework, the news from a recent Portuguese- Spanish Summit, in Braga, are disturbing. According to the press, namely "O Público " (The daily newspaper), the issues of "security " and "defence", occupy a central position, not from the point of view of cooperation for peace, disarmament, a relaxation of international tension, political solution of conflicts, eradication of the social and political causes of terrorism, but from the point of view of an increase in armament expenditures, a greater participation in operations of interference and aggression, greater reinforcement of NATO and the security and militarist component of the European Union, in line with the militarist Treaty, that neither the Socrates government, nor the Zapatero government want to put to the peoples verdict n order not to risk its rejection. In what concerns the disaster in Iraq, the worsening of the situation in Afghanistan, the genocide of the people of Palestine, the threats towards Iran, the Balkan tragedy and other current problems, there was either silence or submission to the strategy decided by the top spheres of the imperialism, for which, they propose to contribute by strengthening the cooperation between their respective armed forces and by articulating the action of their military forces in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Kosovo.
No, this is not the path that the relationship between Portugal and Spain must pursue.
This is the path that is in accordance with the ambitions of the " great " Germany, the pro-US France of Sarkozy, the anticonstitutional military reinforcement of Japan, the deployment of a US anti-missile system at Russia’s doorstep, the announcement of measures to further strengthen NATO, during the next Bucharest Summit, and when this alliance is already projected far beyond the Euro-atlantic area to the borders of China. A path which stands in open contradiction with the interests of the people of Portugal and Spain, and which we must firmly oppose.
The impulse towards militarism and war is inherent to capitalism’s own nature. Only the struggle of workers and peoples towards social progress and peace can prevent its most terrible expressions. To develop the struggle against imperialism and against war was always a task of the greatest importance for Communists.
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